Spanish Language Placement Test

The purpose of the test is to place students in the appropriate language courses.

The test will be available on Canvas from January 15 (8 a.m. EST) until January 19 (2 p.m. EST), 2024.

Please note that the results of the test are only valid for one academic year. Students may take the test only once in a given academic year.

Important note for the Class of 2026: A 5 on the AP Spanish Language Test (and commensurate scores on the IB, A-level, or SAT II as described in the AP table), regardless of the year you took the test, satisfies the language requirement and places you into 200-level SPA courses. You do NOT need to take the Spanish placement test, but you do need to have your official score report sent to Princeton. If you have a 5 on the AP Spanish Language Test and took the placement test due to conflicting guidance on Canvas test site, we will honor your AP score of 5 (which fulfills the language requirement).

Students who did not take an AP or SAT II test, or earned scores below 5 on the AP or below 760 on the SAT II, should take the online Placement Test. Based on the results, students will be placed only in SPA 101, 103, 105 or 108.

Students whose performance on the online Placement Test indicates that they are proficient in Spanish and may be eligible to place out of the foreign language requirement, have to take a second, brief exam, to verify that they have satisfied the foreign language requirement.

 

To Take the Spanish Language Placement Test

  1. Click on the Spanish Language Placement Test Self-Enrollment Link below.

    Spanish Language Placement Test Self-Enrollment Link

    (Note: You may be prompted to log in to Canvas. If so, click the Princeton netID, button and enter your credentials in the space provided. Also, you need to use the supported browsers when using Canvas. Please read the “Browser Check” and the “Read before taking the actual placement test” sections on the placement Canvas site before starting the test. )

  2. When the Canvas site loads, click the Enroll in Course button.

  3. At that point, you’ll be added to the course roster.

    You are not required to take the test immediately; you can return to the test site at any time during the testing period by following the link that will appear in your Canvas dashboard. (Allow enough time to complete the test by the deadline.)

    If the course site is available, you will be given the choice to visit the Language Placement Test site or return to your Canvas Dashboard. If you do not access the Placement Test site immediately, you can always access it from your Canvas Dashboard.

    If the course site is not available, you will receive an email from Canvas once the site is made available.

    Please contact the Director or Associate Director of the Spanish Language Program for more information. Check SPO's contact page for details.


Portuguese Language Placement

Portuguese language placement is handled on a one-on-one basis; there is no online Portuguese language placement test.  

Please contact the Director of the Portuguese Language Program for more information. Check SPO's contact page for details.

Contacts

Catalina Méndez Vallejo
Associate Director of Spanish Language Program
Nicola Cooney
Director of Portuguese Language Program